Determine your target

• Elected officials and candidates running for office are listed by House then Senate District races here.
  
  
• To find out your House and Senate District number, type your address into this search tool (which will also tell you your currently elected officials, but not candidates running).
  

Prepare talking points and materials about EDAM and your work/experience as an economic development professional

• Introduce yourself
• Introduce EDAM
• Share EDAM’s past legislative priorities and likely focus areas
• Relate these priorities to your work
• Review potential resources to share
  • EDAM information on our past legislative agenda
  • Redevelopment Grant program one-pager
  • IEDC resources on economic development more broadly
• Ask them about the legislator/candidate about their priorities, questions they have about economic development
  

Schedule time with the candidate or elected official

• For elected officials, you can do this by reaching out to their office (include the legislator and their legislative assistant (search their name here)), or you can reach out to their campaign. 
  
  
• For candidates who are not currently holding office, you will need to reach out to their campaign, many websites listed here or by internet search.
  
  
• You can also plan to speak with elected officials and candidates at city festivals, parades, events and fundraisers.

Following up

• Within 24 hours (if possible), send a thank you email to the elected official or candidate along with any materials you mentioned during your conversation.
  
  
• Let EDAM leaders know how it went so we can track which legislators and candidates we are building relationships with and so we can assist with any follow ups that may be helpful!

Sample Script

Introduce yourself
Hi, my name is and I’m a constituent/voter who lives in ______ district. I’ve been following your campaign and would love to learn more and share about my work as a _______(include professional role)________within the economic development space.

• Through my role as ___________, I’m also a member of a statewide organization called the Economic Development Association of Minnesota or EDAM. EDAM has approximately 500 members across the state who are public, private and nonprofit leaders in economic development.
• EDAM has been a leader at the Capitol frequently testifying in the Senate and House Jobs committees and advising both Republicans and Democrats on important policies that could positively impact economic development.

Share 1-2 of EDAM’s past legislative priorities and likely focus areas
In the past, EDAM has advocated for programs such as the Redevelopment Fund, which matches state grants, with municipal and private business funding to redevelop blighted spaces. The return on investment of public money has been significant, as has the increase in jobs and the local and state tax base (can share attachment). This particular program has served both rural, suburban and metropolitan areas.  

Share how it relates to your work
What I’m seeing a need for in my work as an economic development professional is_______________________________

Review potential resources if relevant to conversation

• EDAM information on our past legislative agenda and advocacy
• Redevelopment Grant program one-pager
• IEDC resources on economic development more broadly
  
  

Ask them about their priorities, questions they have about economic development (if this hasn’t come up organically throughout the previous talking points)

• Thank you for listening to my perspective. I’d love to hear your thoughts on economic development within our community and the legislature’s role in that?
• What specific priorities do you have for the upcoming legislative session when it comes to economic development?

Don’t be afraid to ask follow up questions. Some statements you get during this portion could be vague.